Nearly every culture in human history has sought to honor the sacred, the mysterious, the supernatural, or the extraordinary. These sites often become cornerstones for a culture & its people; the history of religion & spiritual sites is practically synonymous with the history of human society.” Sacred Places of a Lifetime”, a lushly illustrated gift book, showcases 500 of the world`s most sacred spots, including pilgrimage routes, temples, mountains, churches, & holy places
- from Mont St. Michel Abbey in France, founded after a reported vision of the Archangel Michael; to the White Horse Temple in China, site of the country`s first Buddhist temple, dating from the first century A.D.; to Machu Picchu in Peru, whose origins lie in obscurity; to Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, said by many to be the holiest city in the world. The history & lore of each site will be described in eloquent detail, along with detailed information on how to visit, the best times to go, & other practical information.
...

This is a romantic, utterly alluring leap into Spanish sunshine, remote mountains & rural life. Jason Webster had lived in Spain for several years before he & his partner, the flamenco dancer Salud, decided to buy a deserted farmhouse clinging to the side of a steep valley in the eastern province of Castellon, near the sacred peak of Penaglosa. With help from local farmers
- & from a twelfth-century Moorish book on gardening
- Jason set about creating his dream. He had never farmed before, & knew nothing of plants, but slowly he & Salud cleared the l&, planted & harvested their olives, raised the healing herbs they learned about from local people, set up bee-hives & nurtured precious, expensive truffles, the black gold of the region. & beyond all this they started to fulfil another vision, bringing the native trees back to the cliffs ravaged by fire. At the same time they became drawn into the life of the valley: this is a book rich with characters as well as plants. It follows the people of the village from the winter rains to baking summer heat, from the flowering of the almond trees in spring to the hilarious, fiery festivals & ancient pilgrimages, & tells the history of the region through folk-songs & stories of the Cathar & Templar past. Jason & Salud lived through storms that destroyed their roof & fire that swept across their valley, but as the year passed & his farm flourished Jason found himself increasingly in tune with the ancient, mystical life of the sierra, a place that will haunt your imagination & raise your spirits, as it did his.

...

Sacred Sites of Burma, Myth & Folklore in an Evolving Spiritual Realm, by Donald M. Stadtner, is an exploration of the many facets of Buddhism: art, archaeology, history & belief. With 348 pages, 482 colour illustration & 12 maps & plans, Stadtner helps uncover the development of the myths surrounding sacred places such as Yangon & the Mon State, Pagan & Mandalay, & areas around Inle Lake. The Buddhist tales recounted in this book, describing the founding & origins of these astonishing sites, represent almost the sole source of evidence of their fame & sacredness. This is an invaluable book for anyone interested in the history & development of Buddhism & its many aspects. ...

From St. Peter`s Basilica in Rome to Notre-Dame in Paris, Christian churches represent some of our most significant architectural achievements, designed to evoke wonder & awe. Offering unprecedented access to a collection of revered religious landmarks, photographer Guillaume de Laubier takes readers on a stunning architectural tour. Sacred Spaces showcases breathtaking photographs of extraordinary churches & cathedrals, revealing original, illuminating views of icons, such as la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, while also shedding light on lesser-known sites, such as Saint Basil`s Cathedral in Moscow. Whether Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox; made from wood, stone, concrete, or glass; Roman, Gothic, Baroque, or modern, the places of worship featured in this richly produced volume present an extraordinary overview of our architectural & cultural history. ...

More than twenty mosques & tombs were built from the fifteenth to the early seventeenth centuries in Istanbul, Bursa, Edirne & Uskudar. They are the products of a bold, daring & refined civilisation at the height of its power. The photographs in Sacred Spaces are a testament to the exquisite taste & sophistication of Ottoman architecture. All these buildings & complexes reflect the spirit & social values of an entire society, as well as their taste & artistic ideals. The photographs pay tribute not only to a splendid array of mosques from different times & places but to the men & women who built them & to the faithful who still gather in their midst. ...

Sacriston in 1897 in a fascinating series of reproductions of old Ordnance Survey plans in the Alan Godfrey Editions, ideal for anyone interested in the history of their neighbourhood or family. The map is double-sided. The main map covers an area from the village centre & Front Street eastward to Nettlesworth & Kimblesworth. Features include Sacriston Colliery (in top left corner), St Peter`s church, Sacriston Colliery Inn, Findonhill Quarry, Barrashill Wood, Hobbletrot Quarry, etc. On the reverse a large extract from sheet 19.07 takes coverage further west to include the colliery coke ovens, Charlaw Colliery, wagonway, Fulforth Wood & Laverick Hall. A directory of Sacriston in 1890 is also provided. About the Alan Godfrey Editions of the 25” OS Series: Selected towns in Great Britain & Ireland are covered by maps showing the extent of urban development in the last decades of the 19th & early 20th century. The plans have been taken from the Ordnance Survey mapping & reprinted at about 15 inches to one mile (1:4, 340). On the reverse most maps have historical notes & many also include extracts from contemporary directories. Most maps cover about one mile (1.6kms) north/south, one & a half miles (2.4kms) across; adjoining sheets can be combined to provide wider coverage.FOR MORE INFORMATION & A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL AVAILABLE TITLES PLEASE CLICK ON THE SERIES LINK. ...

Sad Topographies is the first ever atlas of deperssing toponyms. Covering all continents, Damien Rudd explores the world`s depressing place names & explore their etymology. The stories behind these sad topographies are interwoven narratives of history, landscape, exploration, mythology, local folklore & misadventure. From Disappointment Island in the Southern Ocean to Calamity Lake in Minnesota, you can head up to All Alone in West Yorkshire, or if you`re feeling more adventurous why not pay a visit to Crazy Woman Creek. Sad Topographies navigates the terrains of historical fact & imaginative fiction, filling in the gaps where some of the etymologies have been lost over time in this collection of beautifully-illustrated maps. Poetic & dark-humoured, it`s a celebration of our sad & melancholic cultural landscapes. Containing stunning illustrations & a bespoke design, this is perfect for fans of Stories in the Stars or The Atlas of Remote Islands. Damien Rudd is the founder of the hugely popular Instagram account @sadtopographies. ...

Detailed topographic survey map of the southern half of the isl&, from Sohoa southwards. The cartography is of the same precise & highly detailed standard as that in IGN`s Serie Bleue map series for France. Communications & topographic features & landmarks are clearly represented & relief is shown by contours at 10m intervals. GR routes, information centres, & reserve boundaries are marked. A variety of landscape types are distinguished eg. forest, plantation, market gardening, also offshore coral reefs. Latitude & longitude are shown at 5` intervals & a UTM grid is also drawn over the map. ...

This journal features over the top gold embellishment combined with the look of an old leather journal that has been lovingly used for at least a century. It is made from paper & thick cardboard & the back cover comes up to wrap itself on the front cover with the help of an invisible magnet, thus protecting the pages inside. It has 144 ruled pages, a memento pouch, & a red ribbon marker. 18x 23cm. ...

This journal features over the top gold embellishment combined with the look of an old leather journal that has been lovingly used for at least a century. It is made from paper & thick cardboard & the back cover comes up to wrap itself on the front cover with the help of an invisible magnet, thus protecting the pages inside. It has 144 blank pages, a memento pouch, & a red ribbon marker. 13x 18cm. ...